Contractor in the States here... I often get similar comments about OSB being inferior, but I have to agree with you, OSB edges will swell, and plywood will delaminate and have voids. Overall I'd say OSB is preferable.
Cheap plywood is awful for sure. You have to seek out a lumber mill that makes good stuff. No OSbBis worth using in construction. Its still with us because ir increases profit margins.
I use OSB for the floors of my animal sheds on my farm as it's less bouncy and if treated and in my case covered in a rubber flooring lasts for years. All materials have their pros and cons but I guess its how you use them and then subsequently look after them. Great video yet again Roger with superb information and down to earth reporting.
I use OSB under plaster board on stud walls at home for extra strength plus get a better fixing using just screws rather than plasterboard fixings. Never knew there was a waterproof version till now. 👍👍👍
That’s quite a belt and braces approach although I am sure you will be aware of pipes and cables in the studwork. Some people double plasterboard to give it stability but I like your idea of using OSB as a backing board if you like.
Tiny Tony I know a builder (Neil Baldwin) who does that. He uses 12mm OSB and 12 mm plasterboard on kitchen walls and hangs the units on it with not bother. It also helps the soundproofing and resists racking.
@@SkillBuilder I've got a weight bearing wall with double doors under it. When I took the doors out and it's frame, I noticed the wall is plasterboard on OSB on 4x2 timbers. Apparently, that's quite common in the UK for weight bearing walls
All true, for roofing! Also like to use it behind plasterboard where it may be useful to have walls that can be used to hang heavy stuff later. Not so sure about other places, some people use it as their subfloor on joists.... well in our case they used chipboard.... 20 years later took it up and it's mush. So that's where my suspicion about OSB came from originally!
@@davidhale8034 it was chipboard. But I was describing the source of my suspicion about OSB as things that look the same to a (then) untrained eye would naturally have the same properties…
Nice one Roger , I use OSB all the time these days for mainly structural strength behind plasterboard for hanging heavy column radiators and also as you have done on roof structures and many other places , my gripe at the moment is the absolute piss taking prices of timber that can easily double the price of a quote compared to a couple of years ago and also be wary about that cheap Chinese ply that's doing the rounds at the moment as it's absolute shite.....💩 Cheers mate..... 👍
I've used it used it as wall and ceiling panels fitting out a couple of Brewdog pubs. Thought it would have looked terrible but was quite effective in truth when it was lacquered and finished and fitted in with rustic look of the pub.
Interesting video and good explanation. My point of view is from Canada, where OSB has pretty much been the standard for houses for at least 30 years or more. I don’t think anyone here thinks of it as inferior at all anymore, if they ever did. Subfloors, exterior walls, roof, all OSB on wood frame. The stuff used here is generally coated to be water resistant so that during construction it can get rained on and not swell up. Also, the roofing OSB has a side that is grippy on boots when wet, for safety. But like plywood, if left wet or sitting in water it will swell up and get very weak. All construction should be built to keep water off the wood or move it away from the wood so it stays dry. Overall the fact that it is consistent at holding screws and nails and has no voids is a big factor in its use. Also it can be made using fast growing “weed” trees like poplar so ecologically it’s very good. The only criticism might be the off gassing from the resin and glues... might be unfounded but some people claim to dislike it for that reason.
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
Thank you for the great information & reassurance, it’s put my mind at relative ease.I’ve laid a floor for a cabin in 18mm OSB3 & have used a pva sealer on the edges & joints & covered with a tarpaulin.I have used a roofing bitumen adhesive tape over the edges too & fingers crossed will be ok once the rain stops so I can make some progress with the roof. In England by the way with its perpetual rain! Thanks again & have subscribed.
Roger a video on picking the right plywood for the job would be helpful. As EN 636 has three use classes, dry interior, moist & exterior. WBP is a bit out dated but refers to the glue used, structural hardwood ply vs soft wood, veneer grading & finish etc.
OSB might not look pretty, but it is tough. A few years ago I built some temporary structures for a halloween event, faced with chinese cheapo ply. The thing was in a marquee, so out of the rain, but damp environment. Then we took that stuff down in November to build the Christmas event structures. Already after 2 months the ply on the halloween set was de-laminating from factory edges.
You do realize the glue that holds it together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
@@proxyicarcus I am unsure where you get your information from, or to what product it pertains. In Europe, OSB is rated for use in sheltered environments, and if used correctly is expected to last indefinitely- ie. over 50 years
Why are you comparing your high quality OSB to cheap Chinese plywood? At least be a little scientific and compare it to high quality plywood. You’ll see plywood is stronger and more water resistant expanding less than OSB.
Yes agree, l recently did a warm roof and while investigating came to the same conclusion Orientated Strand Board 3 (formaldehyde free) was a much more stable and consistent product. Been watching that Liam too much to (hope he gets his van back) used t&g and can’t wait for it to dry glue👍 Roger I’m l👀king forward to the glass-fibre reinforced roof video🎯
With regards ply laminating under a resin roof.. I went to look at a bungalow with dormas 25yr old... fibreglass roof... and noticed it had de laminated and moved in the wind up n down! Although still watertight... for now! Job for the new year..
good video Roger. Proper plywood like the scandinavian spruce , is better than OSB. unfortunately most suppliers only stock the cheap far eastern ply you describe .
12mm marine plywood, screwed down to an inch of its life works all day long under a newly tiled floor. Don’t forget the primer before you start tiling.
@@TurinTuramber Learned a new acronym. Thanks. Particularly interesting is misinterpretation of WBP WRT (couldn’t resist) “boiling”. Also that WBP ply is allowed voids where Marine ply can’t have any. And, of course, as a result Marine ply is (much) more expensive. Thanks, again.
Useful video many thanks Roger. Could you do a video explaining all the ins and outs with plywood some time. There do seem to be more voids these days or my memory is playing tricks or they sold more marine ply in the past. For the OSB is it worth varnishing the edge if rain/damp is likely?
Good information. Has OSB improved in quality (glue, etc.)? Are there different grades? I wrote it off years ago seeing it disintegrate (at least, puff up and become flaky) when exposed to damp. Always wondered about homes under construction with OSB underlayment on walls, which were accidentally exposed to rain - and then sheathed the next day.
Roger OSB used too in Engineered joisting , goes to show the strength it can go too. 1.5 KN ( Domestic ) to 3KN ( office space) / M2 flooring. Floor Cyberboard 22mm.
I got caught out recently with shite Chinese 18 mm plywood. Bought for a tv backing board and the problems became apparent on the first cut where it exposed voids between each layer of ply. I soldiered on, but when I started to roll it with paint it began to blister. Needless to say it went into the skip
I used OSB3 on my very large workshop roof I built, had a downpour before I managed to get the EPDM down, I found that a lot of the chips swelled up over the surface, I'm guessing it was sapwood.
Had an 8x4 sheet of 20mm osb stood up against my shed and fully exposed to the elements for 5yrs.. Hasn't even started to swell up at the edges .!?!?!... Was gobsmacked after the first year, so thought I'd leave it to see how long it's lasts.
OSB is good stuff. Most builders merchants and the shed sell cheap Chinese ply which is dire stuff but a great profit margin for them. They do the same with MDF and MRMDF too. The only decent stuff is Medite and Kronospan.
I used to think OSB was inferior...I have changed my mind in recent years. Construction grade ply is naff...it is nearly always distorted, bent, curled & yukky. OSB does not distort in any grain direction, it is denser & treated properly will last longer than Plywood. All wood will deteriorate in the wet including ply & OSB. I use OSB (where code allows it) everywhere I need sheet materials nowadays.
It really depends, at my store they had really good construction plywood, 30 euro a sheet, it was so smooth and consistent that I built my kitchen cabinets with it, including drawers and doors. The only difference with premium plywood was less layers and more knots. But now they switched supplier and it's all ugly, yellow and uneven.
@@rutgerhoutdijk3547 That does not sound like construction grade spruce plywood.... There are several grades, ranging from Baltic Birch which is engineering grade to the construction grade stuff which typically gets used for things like roof deck or floors & similar non finish grade sub layers on structure. It is the lowest grade in the heap & the only thing which changes is the glue & any treatments applied. There are less grades of OSB which has much better consistency sheet to sheet with only different treatments such as waterproofing. It also comes with TG grooved edges for flooring but is basically the same stuff.
@@davidbrewer7937 i know, it was sold as underlayment, but for some reason it was really good stuff, imported from Chile, 7 layers pine, it was only 30 euro's for a full sheet while birch costs 80 euro's. (currently increased to 95 euro)
Here in the states, we have OSB that is specifically treated for floors called Advantech. The manufacturer guarantees it will last over six months in the weather. I built a cabinet out of some offcuts and left it out in the weather for three years sitting on the ground. The only warp/expansion was minimal and was just in the pieces that had direct ground contact. We also have a fairly new sheathing OSB specifically treated for roofing that has a special tape for the seams and doesn't require use of tar paper before installing the finish roofing product. All that being said, good plywood of the same thickness is stronger that OSB. It's just a lot more expensive.
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
Great video even if it goes a bit slow for my liking but lots of great material and couldn't agree more with what's said. 18mm OSB3 for subfloors is far superior than ply for anything but bathrooms. To be honest, if you are doing a bathroom you really should be using a cement board but that's a different topic. What I personally love about OSB is that every board you get is of consistent thickness so there is virtually no sanding required. If you want to spurge you can also get OSB that has a plastic layer but that might be harder to source and definitely costs more. There is also the very illusive OSB4 which holds up even better to water but honestly, if you take care of your boards (don't chip the edges) OSB3 is brilliant and it's also come back down in price since Roger did this video. Oh and if you care about being eco friendly, OBS is actually carbon negative meaning that the carbon released in production is less than the carbon captured by the trees used so that's something
Thanks for that info....Roger . I've noticed how ply ..."peals apart " and OSB definitely looks a good .. Question ? Could you use OSB as a floor board (instead of ply )? if you , get a shower tray fitted ..?
Just used 18mm osb3 on my extension floor and flat roof, the floor joists are 600mm centres but rows of noggings at 400mm centres take care of any bounce, apparently not needed as 18mm osb3 same structural strength as 22mm cupboard flooring, cheaper than chipboard as well.
Good vid Roger - as in all things there is no such things as better - it is what is fit for purpose (and economic). Watching the cameo of the roof fibreglassing - 1:11 and noted the 90 degree corner on the upstand - the contractor will never achieving an enduring bond, and should have put in a fillet first, fibreglass does not do 90’s. Have you covered GRP roofing in your video output?
Can you seal the edges with something to stop/reduce swelling and make it last longer when exposed??? I'll prob be using some outdoors temporarily - needs to last maybe 6/9 months!!!
If I'm covering a flat roof ready for GRP I was told it's better to use the t&g sheets as otherwise all the joints will need bandage on them, and the sheets need to be layed down upside down so that there is a small gap where the boards meet. I assume they recommend it that way so that the resin can flow into the joint
Yes the resin does flow into the joints because they don't quite close up. There is no need to glue the joints and I always lay it face up so you can see the writing and the slightly open joint.
Compressed with 100's of tonnes? You mean to say that my homemade OSB - tree through a chipper, mixed with glue and then stood on - is quite likely to fail?
You’ve basically pushed the OSB in this vid and skipped right over the sub standard Chinese ply we are being sold right now, fair enough. I guess I’m considered old school now and the state of plywood is very sub standard to what we had, with no certification stamp or WBP ectra , merchants have no idea what they are selling. I would love to see a rant about this and educate. I could show you exactly the issue and how most have inadvertently stitched clients up with a time bomb of ply decks that are just waiting to delaminate at the hint of damp. Just ask your mate Robin I’m sure he’ll know what I mean. Rant over 🤐
Couldn’t agree more re the quality of plywood. Got some from a well known timber merchant near me and there were that many voids I spent 50% of my time having to fill and sand them all! Right pain in backside
@@thetallcarpenter The best plywood comes from Finland, Russia and the Baltic states. Unfortunately there's lots of cheap rubbish from Asia on the market 🙄🙄🔨🇮🇪
I have been buying ply and leaving it out in the weather (both vertically stored and horizontally) for years owing to a six year home renovation. I dare not say how many sheets I’ve used, abused, skipped, kept for a rainy day, etc. Temporary walkways, hoardings, temporary roof, temporary back of house, etc… Definitely have noticed difference in quality of plywood although it seems to come and go. Sometimes I still get a cheap board which is surprisingly resilient
I will be using 11mm OSB3 for shed roof. Do i need to seal or paint it with a waterproofing product before covering it with felt? If yes, what should i use? Thank you in advance.
osb 3 was 22 euro last year, this week it is 54 euro.There is 2 factory's within an hour or me here in Ireland. Medite has a plant in clonmel 30 mins for me, they use Irish trees. Where has the extra cost come from
@@TurinTuramber very true - agree. if you need to seal the edges of OSB then the problem is the environment and OSB isn't suitable. plus can't seal them anyway.
The only problem I've seen with OSB is that it sometimes lets go of roofing nails. I've seen it loosen up to where I could pull the nails out by hand, not over the entire roof, but in some places. Not sure what's causing it, no sign of water infiltration either.
Some objective advice on best treatment for those cut edges would be useful. I’ve read/heard that ‘painting’ might be helpful. On that rough surface? I don’t think so. Needs to be multiple coats of something more fluid that will penetrate the ‘grain’ surely?
OSB has it's place, roofing and walls (behind plasterboard or shed inner skin) It's just another material I use for very specific applications, roofs and walls yes however floors and cabinetry no My local timber merchant stocks a decent quality hardwood plywood which is comparable price to OSB currently and unlike 90% of the cheap s*&^ plywood that's about it resists moisture really well and is consistent quality.
And as I understand it, OSB is made in the UK from otherwise useless bits of wood (as you describe) where most of the ply we see typically is imported long distances from elsewhere (e.g. China) and with questionable sustainability?
@@SkillBuilder Perhaps I’m a bit old school, I just like to know as much as I can about the materials that I use. I find that my clients don’t mind if I am knowledgeable either, especially if they are concerned about sustainability and I can tell them that OSB was one of the first building materials developed specifically to be sustainable, so much so that they could if they wanted check out the plantation it came from.
Interesting. In the UK lot of shed manufacturers don't like OSB and consider it inferior even for interior floors, though they may be more prone to moisture and humidity, whereas in the USA from the videos I have seen you see it used a lot.
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
while good in some cases my friends garage roof has an extension that is newer about 10 yrs old that is osb with chunks out of it. the much older section is plywood, yes the plywood is de-laminating a bit but is still a solid roof i can walk on it but wouldn't think of the new side. Now this could be installation since waters in at both but just an observation.
very interesting video. OSB is used alot in manufactuer joists now (due to price and limited stock of good timber) which has increase the price of the raw boards massivly. OSB used be so cheap.
So… it looks like then, I’ll be using sheets of OSB for my internal flooring project… as opposed to Spruce floor plywood. The OSB sheets each…. measuring at 2400mm x 600 cost around £16 The Spruce floor plywood measuring exactly the same cost around £44 Monday am 11th November 2024. Southampton England 🏴
Hi need help. Is OSB wood or structural Plywood better suited for a summer house roof (7m x 4m)? I mostly see people using OSB for roof, but my handy man recommends structural plywood but it is about £150 - £200 more then OSB. I'll also be covering the roof with EPDM rubber membrane (classic bond). Just need to know plywood is worth the extra £?
So osb 3 or hardwood ply under my shower tray. Which one as I can only seem to get b&q hardwood ply in my area at the moment? It's a Mira flight shower tray being stuck down with silicone / adhesive
Hi Rodger, apologies for being pedantic but the timber isn’t branches but either thinnings or from clear felling operations usually Sitka Spruce as it’s largely only useful for processing not as structural timber. Big fan, been in the trade for many years but now extracting myself from it, reason? mainly getting on a bit and getting ripped off by clients, never mind “cowboy builders” it’s the clients, particularly nowadays, who are the cowboys. We are/were top builders, all our work was beyond immaculate, no matter, you’re on to hiding to nothing in the trades. I/we loved doing the work and we’ve done a helluva lot over the years but l/we have had enough, of course we have had great clients but the bad ones are bad & you end up being out of pocket, we aren’t talking about hundreds it’s thousands, of pounds, many thousands.Sickening when you put your all into projects, often getting up @ 4-30 to 5am to beat the rush hour and it doesn’t matter how considerate you are, or tidy or hard working or the quality of the work or the extra hours you put in, non of that seems to be recognised. Like most in the trades I could write a book. All the best
Jan Yes you are right about it not being branches. They did ask if I wanted to go out and see the felling operation but I didn't have time. I regret that now because it would have given me the complete picture. I know what you mean about the trade. James is feeling all the things you describe at the moment and is talking of giving up. He loves the work but hates the business.
OSB certainly has it's points, but so does Plywood. Yes, there are water repellent OSBs. Advantech is one of the better ones there too. But in careful tests with controlled circumstances, ALL of the OSB samples against plywood samples swelled signifcantly when exposed to prolonged exposure to water. And non of them did as well as common CDX in holding with nails or staples. And when I say, "not as well", when exposed to soaking for two straight days, all the OSB samples failed in holding power. I'd say that when OSB is used as a roof deck or sheathing, if it can be covered with a membrane before it is exposed to rain, then yeah, it works fine. It will hold shingle nails or staples adequately, (not quite as well as ply, but it passes) But for flooring, I don't agree. It is pretty hard to get a subfloor down and be truly protected against water before the roof is on. Yeah, plywood has voids for sure, but extended tests do show that the swelling on OSB is way more significant. OSB can swell as much as 50%, and it does not shrink back when dry. Plywood swells much less, and after dry gets back to less than 5% more than original. I agree OSB is easier to use often, and all of us hate poor quality ply. OSB is improving in quality, but it still isn't replacing ply for many things. I won't use it if I have a fear of it getting wet.
Is osb fine then as am building a shed and sides l have a wall and fence so was gunna use plywood or osb board for both side and paint with some waterproof paint which is best am in 🇬🇧 uk osb or plywood ? Anyone know please
Hi roger Osb only board recommended under felt , by Uk roofing federation , plywood delaminates. Under felt , good board to work with , but not a good finish to it , so no good for where it’s seen , keep safe mate and love your videos ❤️🙏👍
one important point about OSB: you never know, what kind of wood OSB is being made from. It can be made from pine, what can have heavy evaporations that are actually poisonus in some concentration. This is an extreme sample, but we had a brand new Kindergarten here that was made with a lot of OSB on the walls. It was never opened because before opening there is a standard check for these evaportions and it was way above the level that is allowed. As far as I know, they only do such tests in Kindergarten, school, Hospital and so on. After 2 years, the building was taken down, because they couldn`t get rid of the poisonous stuff by venting the building. This test is not done in private homes! As well keep in mind, they use a whole lot of glue (PU?) to make the wood stick together. If you build a whole house from it, would you like to have 100 of kilogramms of chemical glue in your rooms? Especially nowadays where houses are well "sealed" with not too much air exchange? I really like OSB for many uses, but I would not want to have it in my living room... .
Contractor in the States here... I often get similar comments about OSB being inferior, but I have to agree with you, OSB edges will swell, and plywood will delaminate and have voids. Overall I'd say OSB is preferable.
Also: when nailing off some of the higher level shear walls, plywood tends to blow out more than OSB.
OSB is far better IMO. The only benefit of ply is if you’re looking for a finished face. Apart from that OSB all day long for me.
@@tonyalways7174 Especially 3/4-in T&G subfloor. That stuff is supremely flat and doesn't twist, thus making it easier to lay.
Cheap plywood is awful for sure. You have to seek out a lumber mill that makes good stuff. No OSbBis worth using in construction. Its still with us because ir increases profit margins.
Great video
I use OSB for the floors of my animal sheds on my farm as it's less bouncy and if treated and in my case covered in a rubber flooring lasts for years. All materials have their pros and cons but I guess its how you use them and then subsequently look after them. Great video yet again Roger with superb information and down to earth reporting.
I use OSB under plaster board on stud walls at home for extra strength plus get a better fixing using just screws rather than plasterboard fixings.
Never knew there was a waterproof version till now. 👍👍👍
That’s quite a belt and braces approach although I am sure you will be aware of pipes and cables in the studwork. Some people double plasterboard to give it stability but I like your idea of using OSB as a backing board if you like.
Tiny Tony
I know a builder (Neil Baldwin) who does that. He uses 12mm OSB and 12 mm plasterboard on kitchen walls and hangs the units on it with not bother. It also helps the soundproofing and resists racking.
@@SkillBuilder I've got a weight bearing wall with double doors under it. When I took the doors out and it's frame, I noticed the wall is plasterboard on OSB on 4x2 timbers. Apparently, that's quite common in the UK for weight bearing walls
All the German kit home manufacturers do this.
@@SkillBuilder that’s been the norm in office re fits for years especially with all the TVs and monitors they hang on them
This is a great video! Straight to the point, very informative, and got educated in less than 5 minutes! Bravo 👏
👍 thanks Roger. Important topic. Your ability to make this simple & understandable for DIYers is remarkable
Thank you Roger, I always thought this stuff just cheap boarding for temporary job, you've educated me, thank you.
I was also surprised when I first went to the Sterlingboard mill and saw it.
All true, for roofing! Also like to use it behind plasterboard where it may be useful to have walls that can be used to hang heavy stuff later. Not so sure about other places, some people use it as their subfloor on joists.... well in our case they used chipboard.... 20 years later took it up and it's mush. So that's where my suspicion about OSB came from originally!
Well was it OSB or Chip-board?
@@davidhale8034 it was chipboard. But I was describing the source of my suspicion about OSB as things that look the same to a (then) untrained eye would naturally have the same properties…
Stirling advice there Roger!
Never expose your wood in public!
Happened to me once, but it didn't expand that much.
I agree the fine was rediculas !
Amen
@Pat C peacock maby 😂😂
Correction... never GET CAUGHT exposing yer wood in public... 🙄😂
Thanks for this informative video.
Ash from Scotland 🏴
Nice one Roger , I use OSB all the time these days for mainly structural strength behind plasterboard for hanging heavy column radiators and also as you have done on roof structures and many other places , my gripe at the moment is the absolute piss taking prices of timber that can easily double the price of a quote compared to a couple of years ago and also be wary about that cheap Chinese ply that's doing the rounds at the moment as it's absolute shite.....💩
Cheers mate..... 👍
We did a job for an Austrian couple that loved the look of OSB so much they wanted their outdoor shower clad in it.
I've used it used it as wall and ceiling panels fitting out a couple of Brewdog pubs. Thought it would have looked terrible but was quite effective in truth when it was lacquered and finished and fitted in with rustic look of the pub.
Interesting video and good explanation. My point of view is from Canada, where OSB has pretty much been the standard for houses for at least 30 years or more. I don’t think anyone here thinks of it as inferior at all anymore, if they ever did. Subfloors, exterior walls, roof, all OSB on wood frame. The stuff used here is generally coated to be water resistant so that during construction it can get rained on and not swell up. Also, the roofing OSB has a side that is grippy on boots when wet, for safety. But like plywood, if left wet or sitting in water it will swell up and get very weak. All construction should be built to keep water off the wood or move it away from the wood so it stays dry. Overall the fact that it is consistent at holding screws and nails and has no voids is a big factor in its use. Also it can be made using fast growing “weed” trees like poplar so ecologically it’s very good. The only criticism might be the off gassing from the resin and glues... might be unfounded but some people claim to dislike it for that reason.
firefighters hate osb
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
Why do firefighters hate osb? Toxic fumes?
@@LoneTinaja As it gets hot the glues soften and it loses strength. Then as it burns it gives off fumes. All bad…
Thank you for the great information & reassurance, it’s put my mind at relative ease.I’ve laid a floor for a cabin in 18mm OSB3 & have used a pva sealer on the edges & joints & covered with a tarpaulin.I have used a roofing bitumen adhesive tape over the edges too & fingers crossed will be ok once the rain stops so I can make some progress with the roof. In England by the way with its perpetual rain! Thanks again & have subscribed.
Roger a video on picking the right plywood for the job would be helpful. As EN 636 has three use classes, dry interior, moist & exterior. WBP is a bit out dated but refers to the glue used, structural hardwood ply vs soft wood, veneer grading & finish etc.
Good idea
OSB for life!
Thank you! I do agree it's better than playwood.
OSB might not look pretty, but it is tough.
A few years ago I built some temporary structures for a halloween event, faced with chinese cheapo ply. The thing was in a marquee, so out of the rain, but damp environment. Then we took that stuff down in November to build the Christmas event structures. Already after 2 months the ply on the halloween set was de-laminating from factory edges.
Chinese cheap ply. Chinese cheap OSB would be worse.
You do realize the glue that holds it together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
@@proxyicarcus I am unsure where you get your information from, or to what product it pertains. In Europe, OSB is rated for use in sheltered environments, and if used correctly is expected to last indefinitely- ie. over 50 years
Why are you comparing your high quality OSB to cheap Chinese plywood? At least be a little scientific and compare it to high quality plywood. You’ll see plywood is stronger and more water resistant expanding less than OSB.
@@rossbuchanan763250 years? lol you’re funny.
Which one insulates better if they're the same thickness?
Osb everyday! Ive seen marine ply de laminate a few times! As recently as two months ago! Its the heat and the defined layers that do it!
On a cold bitumen roof (flat) marine ply is best , but how many of them do you see specified nowerdays!
I've used that stuff at my mum's house. I do treat it, but it seems very strong and has lasted for years.
Very good information sir. you wipe out the idea of regular plywood vs OSB but when it comes to nail down and cutting I still prefer Plywood
Yes agree, l recently did a warm roof and while investigating came to the same conclusion Orientated Strand Board 3 (formaldehyde free) was a much more stable and consistent product. Been watching that Liam too much to (hope he gets his van back) used t&g and can’t wait for it to dry glue👍
Roger I’m l👀king forward to the glass-fibre reinforced roof video🎯
Yep took a chance on an osb shed twenty years ago and it's still going strong (ish).
Made from it on outside?
Thanks Roger. Any chance of a review on tarpaulins? There seems to be a lot of rubbish around.
With regards ply laminating under a resin roof.. I went to look at a bungalow with dormas 25yr old... fibreglass roof... and noticed it had de laminated and moved in the wind up n down! Although still watertight... for now! Job for the new year..
Great video Roger👍
Thanks 👍
OSB is down to $21 in our area. It was $58 a few months ago!
Good to hear but keep it a secret or there will be a run on it
good video Roger. Proper plywood like the scandinavian spruce , is better than OSB. unfortunately most suppliers only stock the cheap far eastern ply you describe .
Informative stuff Roger.👍 Don't know how anyone could get "board" 😬 watching this vid! 😂
Excellent video.
Thanks Roger what do you use for sealing the edges please?
Are there any environmental considerations in the comparison between the two?
A board made in The People's Repbulic of Jocistan (Scotland) as opposed to the People's Republic of China. Which is greener?
@@SkillBuilder OK I''ll buy from the Jocks!
12mm marine plywood, screwed down to an inch of its life works all day long under a newly tiled floor. Don’t forget the primer before you start tiling.
Do you mean WBP ply?
@@TurinTuramber 👍🏼
@@TurinTuramber Learned a new acronym.
Thanks. Particularly interesting is misinterpretation of WBP WRT (couldn’t resist) “boiling”. Also that WBP ply is allowed voids where Marine ply can’t have any. And, of course, as a result Marine ply is (much) more expensive. Thanks, again.
12mm That sounds structural...
@@stakkerhmnd Think he means 12mm screwed down onto the existing floorboards to tighten them up.
Hi Roger, after the board is laid and the fibre glass roof is finished, can it be walked on ? Bernie from Wales
Totally agree
Useful video many thanks Roger. Could you do a video explaining all the ins and outs with plywood some time. There do seem to be more voids these days or my memory is playing tricks or they sold more marine ply in the past. For the OSB is it worth varnishing the edge if rain/damp is likely?
how do you protect the edges
Have thought about replacing a dodgy lathe and plaster gable end (needs to be thin...) with OSB and GRP - comments??
Sterling job there Rog 👌🏼🧱👍🏼
Ha! I see what you did there.
@@SkillBuilder couldn’t resist 😁🧱👍🏼
Good information. Has OSB improved in quality (glue, etc.)? Are there different grades? I wrote it off years ago seeing it disintegrate (at least, puff up and become flaky) when exposed to damp. Always wondered about homes under construction with OSB underlayment on walls, which were accidentally exposed to rain - and then sheathed the next day.
Comes in different grades. Do your homework first and buy the right one or better.
Robert
Yes OSB 3 has more water resistance.
@@SkillBuilder Thanks. I guess I will assume those builders used a 3 (or 4) OSB. I mean the building inspectors wouldn’t accept anything less.
Roger OSB used too in Engineered joisting , goes to show the strength it can go too. 1.5 KN ( Domestic ) to 3KN ( office space) / M2 flooring. Floor Cyberboard 22mm.
Good point. I have seen the tests on Truss Joists and they take way more load than a length of tree wood.
I got caught out recently with shite Chinese 18 mm plywood.
Bought for a tv backing board and the problems became apparent on the first cut where it exposed voids between each layer of ply.
I soldiered on, but when I started to roll it with paint it began to blister.
Needless to say it went into the skip
Never buy Chinese products. Unreliable. Extremely unreliable!
I used OSB3 on my very large workshop roof I built, had a downpour before I managed to get the EPDM down, I found that a lot of the chips swelled up over the surface, I'm guessing it was sapwood.
Shame. I would have thrown the EDPM over just to keep the roof dry, unless you were caught in a sudden shower.
@@TurinTuramber midsummer cloudless sky until it wasn't, had to go over the whole thing with a belt sander
Any suggestions about waterproofing it . Would like to make a shed
Had an 8x4 sheet of 20mm osb stood up against my shed and fully exposed to the elements for 5yrs.. Hasn't even started to swell up at the edges .!?!?!... Was gobsmacked after the first year, so thought I'd leave it to see how long it's lasts.
OSB is good stuff. Most builders merchants and the shed sell cheap Chinese ply which is dire stuff but a great profit margin for them. They do the same with MDF and MRMDF too. The only decent stuff is Medite and Kronospan.
What would you choose for a wooden sub floor inside a house?
Great Information as always 🙏
I used to think OSB was inferior...I have changed my mind in recent years. Construction grade ply is naff...it is nearly always distorted, bent, curled & yukky. OSB does not distort in any grain direction, it is denser & treated properly will last longer than Plywood. All wood will deteriorate in the wet including ply & OSB. I use OSB (where code allows it) everywhere I need sheet materials nowadays.
It really depends, at my store they had really good construction plywood, 30 euro a sheet, it was so smooth and consistent that I built my kitchen cabinets with it, including drawers and doors. The only difference with premium plywood was less layers and more knots. But now they switched supplier and it's all ugly, yellow and uneven.
@@rutgerhoutdijk3547 That does not sound like construction grade spruce plywood.... There are several grades, ranging from Baltic Birch which is engineering grade to the construction grade stuff which typically gets used for things like roof deck or floors & similar non finish grade sub layers on structure. It is the lowest grade in the heap & the only thing which changes is the glue & any treatments applied. There are less grades of OSB which has much better consistency sheet to sheet with only different treatments such as waterproofing. It also comes with TG grooved edges for flooring but is basically the same stuff.
@@davidbrewer7937 i know, it was sold as underlayment, but for some reason it was really good stuff, imported from Chile, 7 layers pine, it was only 30 euro's for a full sheet while birch costs 80 euro's. (currently increased to 95 euro)
Here in the states, we have OSB that is specifically treated for floors called Advantech. The manufacturer guarantees it will last over six months in the weather. I built a cabinet out of some offcuts and left it out in the weather for three years sitting on the ground. The only warp/expansion was minimal and was just in the pieces that had direct ground contact.
We also have a fairly new sheathing OSB specifically treated for roofing that has a special tape for the seams and doesn't require use of tar paper before installing the finish roofing product.
All that being said, good plywood of the same thickness is stronger that OSB. It's just a lot more expensive.
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
Hi Roger, I've got some flat roofing which needs updating. Have you got a video about GRP roofing?
We have one coming soon
As per usual an education! Nice one!
What is that process called on 1:11 and what materials are used?
OSB ALL THE WAY! #OSBarmy
Nice explanation. Would anyone use ply for a roof ? I'm no expert but always thought OSB was the board to use .
Totally agree... The weight of a decent 22mm OSB is really heavy and for me that's the only downside..
Great video even if it goes a bit slow for my liking but lots of great material and couldn't agree more with what's said. 18mm OSB3 for subfloors is far superior than ply for anything but bathrooms. To be honest, if you are doing a bathroom you really should be using a cement board but that's a different topic. What I personally love about OSB is that every board you get is of consistent thickness so there is virtually no sanding required. If you want to spurge you can also get OSB that has a plastic layer but that might be harder to source and definitely costs more. There is also the very illusive OSB4 which holds up even better to water but honestly, if you take care of your boards (don't chip the edges) OSB3 is brilliant and it's also come back down in price since Roger did this video.
Oh and if you care about being eco friendly, OBS is actually carbon negative meaning that the carbon released in production is less than the carbon captured by the trees used so that's something
Is BlackJack good to help weatheproof osb 3 ?
What's best
Thanks for that info....Roger .
I've noticed how ply ..."peals apart "
and OSB definitely looks a good ..
Question ? Could you use OSB as a floor board (instead of ply )? if you , get a shower tray fitted ..?
Yes, absolutely The OSB 3 is great for flooring
Just used 18mm osb3 on my extension floor and flat roof, the floor joists are 600mm centres but rows of noggings at 400mm centres take care of any bounce, apparently not needed as 18mm osb3 same structural strength as 22mm cupboard flooring, cheaper than chipboard as well.
@@richardcapey-wade8191 ..could you use in a bathroom .
Good vid Roger - as in all things there is no such things as better - it is what is fit for purpose (and economic). Watching the cameo of the roof fibreglassing - 1:11 and noted the 90 degree corner on the upstand - the contractor will never achieving an enduring bond, and should have put in a fillet first, fibreglass does not do 90’s. Have you covered GRP roofing in your video output?
I have put fillets in there before and most fibreglass guys take them out. They prefer to curve it up the corner with the matting. It is never sharp.
@@SkillBuilder Probably because they do not understand working with GRP.😉
Why is the price of OSB so high and will it come back down? I was looking when it was £28-30 per sheet 18mm, now it's like £50 or so per sheet
Can you seal the edges with something to stop/reduce swelling and make it last longer when exposed???
I'll prob be using some outdoors temporarily - needs to last maybe 6/9 months!!!
Good, obvious question!
Just paint it and make a good job of the edges.
Diluted SBR
If I'm covering a flat roof ready for GRP I was told it's better to use the t&g sheets as otherwise all the joints will need bandage on them, and the sheets need to be layed down upside down so that there is a small gap where the boards meet. I assume they recommend it that way so that the resin can flow into the joint
Yes the resin does flow into the joints because they don't quite close up. There is no need to glue the joints and I always lay it face up so you can see the writing and the slightly open joint.
Compressed with 100's of tonnes? You mean to say that my homemade OSB - tree through a chipper, mixed with glue and then stood on - is quite likely to fail?
Depends on how much lockdown weight you have.
Rico
It depends on how heavy you are, maybe find a fat friend if you are too light
@@SkillBuilder 99 tonnes of pure muscle, 1 tonne of fat.
You’ve basically pushed the OSB in this vid and skipped right over the sub standard Chinese ply we are being sold right now, fair enough. I guess I’m considered old school now and the state of plywood is very sub standard to what we had, with no certification stamp or WBP ectra , merchants have no idea what they are selling. I would love to see a rant about this and educate. I could show you exactly the issue and how most have inadvertently stitched clients up with a time bomb of ply decks that are just waiting to delaminate at the hint of damp. Just ask your mate Robin I’m sure he’ll know what I mean. Rant over 🤐
Couldn’t agree more re the quality of plywood. Got some from a well known timber merchant near me and there were that many voids I spent 50% of my time having to fill and sand them all! Right pain in backside
Absolutely agree as well👍'standard' builders merchants ply is carbage compared to what it used to be.
@@thetallcarpenter The best plywood comes from Finland, Russia and the Baltic states. Unfortunately there's lots of cheap rubbish from Asia on the market 🙄🙄🔨🇮🇪
god i hate china!
I have been buying ply and leaving it out in the weather (both vertically stored and horizontally) for years owing to a six year home renovation. I dare not say how many sheets I’ve used, abused, skipped, kept for a rainy day, etc. Temporary walkways, hoardings, temporary roof, temporary back of house, etc… Definitely have noticed difference in quality of plywood although it seems to come and go. Sometimes I still get a cheap board which is surprisingly resilient
I will be using 11mm OSB3 for shed roof. Do i need to seal or paint it with a waterproofing product before covering it with felt? If yes, what should i use? Thank you in advance.
osb 3 was 22 euro last year, this week it is 54 euro.There is 2 factory's within an hour or me here in Ireland. Medite has a plant in clonmel 30 mins for me, they use Irish trees. Where has the extra cost come from
Can still get it for 36 quid in yorkshire... but gotta shop around!
All part of the convid scam I'm afraid. The greatest wealth transfer in history took place over the last twenty months. Pure greed and profiteering.
the resin they use. The wood they use may be local but the resin is most likely imported
I was told Today that I'd have to wait till January at the earliest for a sheet of 25mm M.R MDF! 🙄 What a joke! 🙄
@@Toyotaamazon80series I have only been able to get MR MDF in 15mm with the last month😂😂😂
Hi, can i build a shed out of OSB sheet and what protection need take for all weather conditions
My wooden floorboards are squeaking badly, which is the best to use to to cover the floorboards? Thank you
do you have to leave a expansion gao on the 4 foot side or just the 8 foot side?
around the perimeter
@@SkillBuilder so around the 4 foot side and the 8 foot side?
Can you seal the edges to stop moisture getting in?
No.
Often sealing in moisture in things is a big mistake. Better to keep the water off it where possible and leave it free to breath.
@@TurinTuramber very true - agree. if you need to seal the edges of OSB then the problem is the environment and OSB isn't suitable. plus can't seal them anyway.
The only problem I've seen with OSB is that it sometimes lets go of roofing nails. I've seen it loosen up to where I could pull the nails out by hand, not over the entire roof, but in some places. Not sure what's causing it, no sign of water infiltration either.
Same here. Especially repairing roofing and siding that was blown off in high winds
Some objective advice on best treatment for those cut edges would be useful. I’ve read/heard that ‘painting’ might be helpful. On that rough surface? I don’t think so. Needs to be multiple coats of something more fluid that will penetrate the ‘grain’ surely?
OSB has it's place, roofing and walls (behind plasterboard or shed inner skin)
It's just another material I use for very specific applications, roofs and walls yes however floors and cabinetry no
My local timber merchant stocks a decent quality hardwood plywood which is comparable price to OSB currently and unlike 90% of the cheap s*&^ plywood that's about it resists moisture really well and is consistent quality.
OSB is the king of timbers! It is versatile and beautiful! And makes beautiful guitars and jewellery boxes!
I am sure I saw Roger the other morning driving through Cranleigh!!!
Yes you did I was lost. I was supposed to be in Carlisle
And as I understand it, OSB is made in the UK from otherwise useless bits of wood (as you describe) where most of the ply we see typically is imported long distances from elsewhere (e.g. China) and with questionable sustainability?
Most timber sheets and length is stamped FSC.
Also soft woods grow in warm locations are inferior because they grow too fast. The slow growth from Nordic countries makes for better lumber.
Brazil also supply a lot of plywood and it's of highly questionable quality.
Good point!
@@TurinTuramber loads of imported gadgets/tools have CE or TUV on them doesn't mean they were certified anywhere.
Great Educator
The serial number printed on Sterling Board OSB identifies the exact location of the plantation the trees used to make that board came from.
How is that useful to the builder?
@@SkillBuilder Perhaps I’m a bit old school, I just like to know as much as I can about the materials that I use.
I find that my clients don’t mind if I am knowledgeable either, especially if they are concerned about sustainability and I can tell them that OSB was one of the first building materials developed specifically to be sustainable, so much so that they could if they wanted check out the plantation it came from.
T&G OSB is the way to go for GRP roofs, no bandaging required at the joins and already has that built in expansion joint.
I agree with that completely but a lot don't do it
Interesting. In the UK lot of shed manufacturers don't like OSB and consider it inferior even for interior floors, though they may be more prone to moisture and humidity, whereas in the USA from the videos I have seen you see it used a lot.
You do realize the glue that holds it all (osb and plywood alike) together turns into dust after only 20 years? It's a ticking time bomb. The USA does not consider this an issue because new construction life expectancy is 25 years. OSB Sheathing is now spec'd for seismic, load bearing and shear walls. It's plenty strong today, but what about 40 years from now will it survive a gust of wind, not to mention an earthquake? LOL. Using glued together saw dust for structural elements like sheathing or shear walls is going to be a bigger disaster than the leaky condo crisis because nobody bothered to provide a rainscreen for ventilation. Especially with all these 6 -8 storey residential buildings going up build from OSB.....
I used 18mm OSB on a hot roof without any problems but instead of GRP I used EPDM rubber roofing membrane.
Is it better to use t&g osb under tiling then? I normally use 25mm ply, which seems very strong and had no problems.
Depends on the quality of the plywood. The problem is delamination.
Oriented Strand Board.
oriental mister kim
@@lestercranmer2631 hahahaha!
while good in some cases my friends garage roof has an extension that is newer about 10 yrs old that is osb with chunks out of it. the much older section is plywood, yes the plywood is de-laminating a bit but is still a solid roof i can walk on it but wouldn't think of the new side. Now this could be installation since waters in at both but just an observation.
very interesting video. OSB is used alot in manufactuer joists now (due to price and limited stock of good timber) which has increase the price of the raw boards massivly. OSB used be so cheap.
So… it looks like then, I’ll be using sheets of OSB for my internal flooring project… as opposed to Spruce floor plywood. The OSB sheets each…. measuring at 2400mm x 600 cost around £16
The Spruce floor plywood measuring exactly the same cost around £44
Monday am 11th November 2024. Southampton England 🏴
Hi need help. Is OSB wood or structural Plywood better suited for a summer house roof (7m x 4m)? I mostly see people using OSB for roof, but my handy man recommends structural plywood but it is about £150 - £200 more then OSB. I'll also be covering the roof with EPDM rubber membrane (classic bond). Just need to know plywood is worth the extra £?
Can't you use wbp hardwood ply on a roof deck? Celotex stick it on their PIR board for flat roof.
So osb 3 or hardwood ply under my shower tray. Which one as I can only seem to get b&q hardwood ply in my area at the moment? It's a Mira flight shower tray being stuck down with silicone / adhesive
OSB 3 with a coat of SBR will be perfect
@@SkillBuilder great thanks. Any specific SBR?
Horses for courses ??
It should just be covered in all cases with flashing or some materials. It should never be just painted and left to outside weather.
For me I definitely depends on what I’m doing and the kind of job it’s for , but for what you are doing OSB is better
OSB all the way now, gone up a bit now though
Hi Rodger, apologies for being pedantic but the timber isn’t branches but either thinnings or from clear felling operations usually Sitka Spruce as it’s largely only useful for processing not as structural timber. Big fan, been in the trade for many years but now extracting myself from it, reason? mainly getting on a bit and getting ripped off by clients, never mind “cowboy builders” it’s the clients, particularly nowadays, who are the cowboys. We are/were top builders, all our work was beyond immaculate, no matter, you’re on to hiding to nothing in the trades. I/we loved doing the work and we’ve done a helluva lot over the years but l/we have had enough, of course we have had great clients but the bad ones are bad & you end up being out of pocket, we aren’t talking about hundreds it’s thousands, of pounds, many thousands.Sickening when you put your all into projects, often getting up @ 4-30 to 5am to beat the rush hour and it doesn’t matter how considerate you are, or tidy or hard working or the quality of the work or the extra hours you put in, non of that seems to be recognised. Like most in the trades I could write a book. All the best
Jan Yes you are right about it not being branches. They did ask if I wanted to go out and see the felling operation but I didn't have time. I regret that now because it would have given me the complete picture.
I know what you mean about the trade. James is feeling all the things you describe at the moment and is talking of giving up. He loves the work but hates the business.
OSB certainly has it's points, but so does Plywood. Yes, there are water repellent OSBs. Advantech is one of the better ones there too. But in careful tests with controlled circumstances, ALL of the OSB samples against plywood samples swelled signifcantly when exposed to prolonged exposure to water. And non of them did as well as common CDX in holding with nails or staples. And when I say, "not as well", when exposed to soaking for two straight days, all the OSB samples failed in holding power. I'd say that when OSB is used as a roof deck or sheathing, if it can be covered with a membrane before it is exposed to rain, then yeah, it works fine. It will hold shingle nails or staples adequately, (not quite as well as ply, but it passes) But for flooring, I don't agree. It is pretty hard to get a subfloor down and be truly protected against water before the roof is on.
Yeah, plywood has voids for sure, but extended tests do show that the swelling on OSB is way more significant. OSB can swell as much as 50%, and it does not shrink back when dry. Plywood swells much less, and after dry gets back to less than 5% more than original. I agree OSB is easier to use often, and all of us hate poor quality ply. OSB is improving in quality, but it still isn't replacing ply for many things. I won't use it if I have a fear of it getting wet.
Is osb fine then as am building a shed and sides l have a wall and fence so was gunna use plywood or osb board for both side and paint with some waterproof paint which is best am in 🇬🇧 uk osb or plywood ? Anyone know please
Hi roger
Osb only board recommended under felt , by Uk roofing federation , plywood delaminates. Under felt , good board to work with , but not a good finish to it , so no good for where it’s seen , keep safe mate and love your videos ❤️🙏👍
Exterior grade plywood wont delaminate, even after soaking in a bucket of water for a week. OSB falls apart. I am glad OSB has improved
You said OSB falls apart, then you said it has improved. Are you saying it no longer falls apart at all, or just less?
one important point about OSB: you never know, what kind of wood OSB is being made from.
It can be made from pine, what can have heavy evaporations that are actually poisonus in some concentration.
This is an extreme sample, but we had a brand new Kindergarten here that was made with a lot of OSB on the walls.
It was never opened because before opening there is a standard check for these evaportions and it was way above the level that is allowed.
As far as I know, they only do such tests in Kindergarten, school, Hospital and so on.
After 2 years, the building was taken down, because they couldn`t get rid of the poisonous stuff by venting the building.
This test is not done in private homes!
As well keep in mind, they use a whole lot of glue (PU?) to make the wood stick together.
If you build a whole house from it, would you like to have 100 of kilogramms of chemical glue in your rooms?
Especially nowadays where houses are well "sealed" with not too much air exchange?
I really like OSB for many uses, but I would not want to have it in my living room... .
Just going for a sheet